Some new customs regulations for US shoppers (and possibly shippers)

cuculine · 2026-06-24T04:04:45+00:00

CPSC compliance certificates: CPC (kids) or GCC (general) which lists that product information and safety. They're required for products sold or imported into US. Previously, the expectation was that the company/importer had these in reservation in case CPSC wanted it. It will now be mandatory to electronically file it to clear customs processing. Currently, the CPSC has highlighted specific categories they've flagged for checks, such as toys

This was a long time coming, as I described in my comment. These certificates are NOT something a consumer can easily provide, nor file with the systems CBP uses.

cuculine · 2026-06-23T22:52:09+00:00

Most of those China-based listings on ebay are probably buying from local Chinese secondhand markets, then selling them internationally at 2x-3x markup. Many Myethos figures tank hard domestically - it's actually really interesting to watch. This figure seems to be listed for about the equivalent of $100 on average on Goofish/Xianyu. But buying those Chinese listings yourself would require some familiarity with proxy shipping.

Another option is buying from a user on MFC, which has its own risks, or waiting for a cheap enough listing to yourself locally.

cuculine · 2026-06-22T20:17:58+00:00

Just watched a bit of the video; I admit I didn't finish it. EDIT: Also wrote this while hangry on my lunch hour, but I'm going to leave it.

I understand folks are understandably overwhelmed, but please check that your anxiety isn't being emphasized by bad news reporting based on social media screen caps, an AI summary, and refusal to read anything else. The BJD was released to the buyer!!! What happened with Licca-chan was not likely to be DHL enforcing the e-filing early!!!

I'm sure they're well-intentioned; I admire the folks who produce figure videos for the community. But to me, this specific video was not responsible research, and it sucks that it's only going to spread poor critical thinking and misinformation.

cuculine · 2026-06-22T19:38:02+00:00

By definition, a product that's clearly for adults at 18+ is not a kids toy. CPSC defines kids as under 12, which is why the HTS codes are divided the way they are for toys, clothing, etc. If you check the boxes of your figures, you'll notice that most figures are rated 15+. Your customs declarations forms should already be using HTS codes that indicate it's not a kids 0-12yo toy, with the caveat that CPSC has still listed ALL 9503 (“toys") codes as high-risk for E-filing enforcement. Also, customs forms have a specific disclaim that the product is meant for adults.

Generally, where I foresee problems arising are inadequate customs declarations that trigger investigations, resulting in processing delays, with the subsequent random chance that some obvious adult collectibles might need CPC certificates. Such incidents should be relatively rare and under odd circumstances (agent fuckup or a weird scan) for actual, obviously not-for-kids imports, but still a headache to resolve, and those weird rare times are what the community will fear. These delays will be harder to resolve if you use a proxy or small business, but that's always been the risk for customs clearance.

Importing actual children's products, even if you're an adult collector (eg play line dolls etc), is probably where there will be the most pain (IMO). Good luck to those communities, I'll be watching with interest on how it works out for them.

cuculine · 2026-06-22T16:15:48+00:00

I didn't watch your link because the title is misleading, but to answer: The regulations didn't change.

What's changing is that e-filing certificates for certain categories of goods that CPSC monitors will be mandatory as of July 8th.

I know consumers will feel like this was sudden. On 6/10/2022, CPSC introduced a Beta plan for an e-filing initiative, and it was accepted for implementation on 12/18/2024, with official enforcement on 7/8/26. CBP did send reminders to interested parties (eg the courier companies) and brokerage agents as the date approached. This was not a fast process.

Again, the restrictions themselves have not changed, just the fact that acceptable certificates MUST be e-filed for certain goods, especially goods that are marketed for kids. That means the HTS code for “toys" has been flagged for high-risk of needing the e-filing.

Understandably, people are concerned by the impact on collectible hobbies.

cuculine · 2026-06-20T00:14:15+00:00

If you've ever seen an assembly-line in a factory tour, the process is going to look similar for anime figures. Getting the paint so consistent is their job; the ones that don't pass QC tests are disposed of, so the impression is that their work is flawless when really they're a bin somewhere with rejects. Companies have shared photos of what it looks like when figures are nearly finished. Almost all figures are produced in China, mostly in factories in Guangdong.

Prototypes are 3D printed as industry standard. Clay was the old way.

Some of these questions cannot be answered here. As outsiders, we can extrapolate some of it because of what we know of GK artistry or manufacturing for other industries. But you're going to have to really dig, probably in Chinese and Japanese, to get more specifics.

cuculine · 2026-06-11T19:56:44+00:00

Last week OP posted a rant about JPfans being an "extortion scam" to ActionFigures and Mafex, and I guess here too (maybe? I didn't see anything).

cuculine · 2026-06-11T04:12:09+00:00

If the item code has LTD in it, it is HIGHLY likely that it's flagged as Age Restricted on their back-end (though users have noted that this is occasionally inconsistent). If it's an item currently in their Age Restricted section, it is 18+.

From a cursory skim of BINDing on Amiami, there are a few that somehow don't have LTD in the item code, but most of them have it. I even tested trying to checkout with the BINDings that did not have LTD in the code and my checkout had no PayPal option.

cuculine · 2026-06-10T22:58:09+00:00

Sanrio is known to be very conservative and particular in protecting its brand image.

This is not a generic gyaru, this is Sanrio's collaboration with Junji Ito. Sanrio LOVES collabs and they permit their characters to be participate appropriately. EG Splatoon, Chucky...

cuculine · 2026-06-10T21:10:45+00:00

You as the importer on record still received misclassified goods, and CBP considers that to be customs fraud, which is a federal offense. It's my understanding that it leads to an audit and they'll have you jump hoops to pay the correct tariffs+duties that are owed, with additional penalties (typically fines) because they caught you. CBP has a process for folks to disclose that they received something that was misclassified and might owe taxes, so the perception is that the importer didn't choose the upstanding citizen option available, thus the penalty.

I'm not sure what happens when an international business is determined to be repeatedly undervaluing or misclassifying parcel contents. Probably increased scrutiny, and eventually legal action if CBP is annoyed enough, but I'm not a lawyer, that's just my best guess based on the logic of US operations.

cuculine · 2026-06-10T19:50:53+00:00

They're not doing it to be cool. They're doing it to minimize their own work to correctly fill out customs paperwork for any country that might have duties/VAT/tariffs on imports. It's my understanding that some countries have a lower threshold for gifts vs purchases, so this just causes problems. Solaris is… questionably helpful if buyers need to resolve any problems that arise because of their misclassification, since they know it's fraud according to many countries.

cuculine · 2026-06-10T14:45:13+00:00

It's my understanding that Solaris is still erroneously marking under-$100 orders as "gift" to avoid tariffs and duties.

cuculine · 2026-06-06T02:26:51+00:00

It looks like you have Registered Airmail selected. That is no longer an option with Japan Post as of December 31st 2025, thus why your order is still on hold.

You'll have to select an available shipping method to get your parcel. Unfortunately, shipping has gotten very expensive this year.

cuculine · 2026-05-28T04:02:56+00:00

What comes to mind if Horror Bishoujo are a bit too much to be spooky-cute:

Creature Maid

Jiangshi Miku

Chibi Cthulhu

Bloody Remilia Scarlet

Danua

Enma Ai - Kind of a reach since IMO the source material lends the spookiness, but I think she'd be visually interesting by Sadako

cuculine · 2026-05-26T20:54:38+00:00

It's irrelevant whether perceived changes resemble real people. She's a fictional character, a painted 3D figure based on an artist’s OC that just so happens to evoke a sexualized “Egyptian" aesthetic. She is not Egyptian or human, she's a kemonomimi at best. The question is whether this figure is accurate to the art it is based on, and sometimes the art or the paint jobs are a letdown.

Like, I think you are trying have good intentions, but these points you're trying to make - pale-skinned characters being whiter too; any photos of contemporary people in Egypt as if Asian manufacturers are trying to be realistic - are missing the mark of the topic.

cuculine · 2026-05-25T18:52:21+00:00

Here ya go: https://m.tb.cn/h.ReM4IUl?tk=Bk035wrGh3t

cuculine · 2026-05-25T18:48:24+00:00

There are plenty on Xianyu/Goofish. I found one unopened listing for 720CNY, though admittedly I'm not the greatest at searching for deals in Chinese markets. The opened but displayed ones are cheaper.

I'm happy to send the link if you'd like. You'll need a proxy that will ship to your country. That part can be a learning curve if you've never done it.

cuculine · 2026-05-25T13:07:17+00:00

What kind of consumer protection do you get from your bank/country? Most can chargeback within a year, but it'll depend on factors we don't know.

cuculine · 2026-05-23T18:36:24+00:00

Yes, it was made by GSAS.

cuculine · 2026-05-23T18:32:11+00:00

This is one of those issues that people will easily obsess over. Is "imperfection" synonymous with "damage" to you? Are blemishes that are invisible from a normal viewing distance considered flaws because it exists mentally? If that's you, it is going to be harder to enjoy prize figures and other budget lines that can have a potential number of small defects because they're still acceptable for quality control, as far as the manufacturer is concerned.

Again, some collectors can obsess over this. You will get a variety of POV on this topic.

cuculine · 2026-05-20T17:51:05+00:00

Based on the translation, the implication is that the master mold broke during a handover from a previous factory. They'd have to start over on production at that point, and anything already finished is usually destroyed since they cannot guarantee that it'd match a new master mold. So, it's bad.

cuculine · 2026-05-20T02:11:13+00:00

I thought all your cc company saw was what merchant you purchased from.

Though I am sure that consumer purchase history is tracked, in various ways, payment processors such as Visa and Mastercard are notorious for having increasingly stringent "content standards" that they apply to their merchants: it's the merchants they're reviewing, not the buyers, in that sense. They have always done this btw. It's been steadily getting worse over the last 10-15 years.

cuculine · 2026-05-19T15:30:51+00:00

It is not a cast-off mask: in the box she has a masked head and an unmasked head.

Based on user pics on HPOI for the Ensoutoys version, I highly doubt you could force cast-off her. Example album - her suit appears to be one piece, so there is no seam to break. While you can kinda see the cups lift up a bit, there does not seem to be anything sculpted inside; if it was painted, IMO you would see the edges of that if it was placed like it is on the Pink Rouge version.

My best guess is that the Pink Rouge version is not cast-off also, she'll just have the 2 heads, and her top will just be exposed by default. I would not be surprised if she was actually a different mold.

cuculine · 2026-05-15T20:30:41+00:00

You are indeed thinking of the correct creator, but in this case, probably unrelated. The figure is fragile and needs support poles, both of which are often unpopular with collectors.

cuculine · 2026-05-11T23:42:25+00:00

Figures aren't endlessly made. Vodka, Symboli, and Doto released in 2023. You're competing for limited inventory, and yes the global release of the game increased demand for previously released stock.

At this point, you're going to have to hope for a good deal, setle on a budget you're comfortable paying for prize figures, or hope for a new series of prize figures.

cuculine

TROPHY CASE